ABU DHABI [MENL] -- Syria has ignored the demands of the U.S. military to halt the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq.

U.S. Central Command chief Gen. John Abizaid said the regime of President Bashar Assad has refused to block the flow of insurgents and support from Syria to Iraq. Abizaid said that despite numerous appeals Assad continues to allow Sunni insurgents to train in Syria for operations against the U.S.-led coalition.

"We have provided Syrians with very specific information and asked them to help secure the Iraq-Syrian borders to stop foreign fighters from crossing into Iraq," Abizaid said in an interview to the Kuwaiti daily Al Rai Al Aam on Thursday. "More importantly, we asked them to cooperate with us to pursue terrorists who operate out of Syria, in addition to Iraqi Baathists in Syria who are trying to organize military operations inside Iraq."

On Thursday, President George Bush renewed economic sanctions on Syria implemented on 2004. In a letter to Congress, Bush said Damascus continues to support terrorism and undermine efforts to stabilize Iraq.
 
Middle East News Line